Rangdum

This will be the first gompa in Zanskar for a visitor who is arriving by road via the only accessible route to Zanskar valley via Kargil. It is dramatically located on top of a small hillock, which is in the middle of Suru river basin, and is roughly around 5 km away from the cluster of villages around Rangdum. A dirt road goes all the way to the door of the monastery.
It is affiliated to the Gelugpa order, which is around 300 years old having been constructed in the 18th century. The monastery is visible from afar and is substantial in terms of size. There are 3–4 rooms and the monastery also houses a museum containing rare artefacts of value. Views on both sides of the valley from Rangdum gompa are unparalleled. The monastery is painted in maroon red and is well maintained.

Colourful and well-preserved murals occupy most of the wall’s space inside the room and an old sculpture inside a glass structure is the highlight of Rangdum monastery. Photography is not allowed inside the monastery for fear of damaging the murals. There are also monk’s residences in the monastery and visitors can spend the night too (if the monks agree.)